"3" What does it mean? To a sports oriented family my brain pulls out a couple quick answers: 3 strikes and your out, a 3-ball to start each pickup basketball game, or a par 3. To a musical family like my wifes "3" conjures up a completely different set of thoughts but to me right now "3" refers to one thing and one thing only. Number 3, the bun in the oven, numero tecero, our 3rd child.
Let me tell you all a secret, shhh come closer. "My kids are the bestest mostest cutest kids in the whole wide universe". You may disagree but we can agree to disagree. I love my kids, they make me happy but there is one thing I never want to experience. Right now you might all be thinking that I am going to say child birth. Although I hear it is no fun you are wrong. I think I could do the child birth thing all things considered. No, I am talking about something that is also caused by one of my favorite things in the world, sex, but it's not child birth. I am talking about pregnancy.
I think I could deal with the pain of delivery and even deal with the extreme discomfort by the almost unavoidable tear. What I don't get nor do I ever want to is the weird uncontrollable hormonal swings that the pregnant and just pregnant woman have to some how try to control. I could deal with the blood. I could deal with the pain and discomfort. I think I could even deal with feeling absolutely out of commission from morning sickness. I can hold my own when I'm tired so I think I could manage that obstical but the hormonal swings and emotional side of the whole ordeal would K.O. me for the "3" count.
Before all the women out there start telling me that I just don't get how hard it is to be morning sick or how painful labor is or how incredible miserable it is to bleed for 2 months straight, take a deep breath and read on. I don't want to experience any of these things because after a broken femur I think childbirth and all that goes along with it is next in line. Bryan Regan may say a 9 for childbirth but then again he is a guy, how would he know. You ladies are incredible. What I am trying to say is all of the physical discomfort aside, I think the emotional-hormonal rollercoaster that is child birth is much more difficult then any man will ever understand. Its like getting a hole in one in golf and getting a swift kick to the jimmy all at the same time. You don't know whether to be ecstatic or crumple on the ground in pain.
I love my wife. She is amazing. I watch her each day battle with the constant rollercoaster of emotions. I see the frustration in her eyes as she wonders where the emotions come from and why she doesn't feel like she is herself. I will never understand the difficulty of what she is going through or what all women have gone through but what I do know is she is amazing. I don't know if I could handle the constant attack from this "non-physical" challenge but Lesa never gives up. Through the tears and the trials she never gives up.
I will never experience what a women goes through both physically and emotionally during pregnancy and I am thankful for that. Lesa, you are amazing! You are doing a great job! No, your not crazy or insane and yes I still love you. I love you more now then ever before. I love your tenacity, your dedication, and your unstoppable will to fight through whatever challenge is in front of you. I love you. You're doing an incredible job and you are a better wife and mother of my children then I could have ever dreamed of marrying.
I don't get it nor do I ever want to
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
2 Blisters, a team, and a dang pirate
So, I am writing today as I reflect back on the last 48 hours of my life and the best way I can sum it all up is "2 blisters, a team, and a dang Pirate". For the 5 of you that spent 27 of the last 48 hours with me this makes perfect sense but for the rest of you let me explain.
27 of the last 48 hours was spent with 5 teammates in a suburban in the mountains running the Wasatch Back Relay. Our journey began in Logan Utah and 188 miles and 27 painful, sleepless, ache-full hours later we finished in Park City. During those 27 hours I learned a few things about myself and about life.
1- "2 Blisters" I started my first leg around 1:30pm. It was 6.9 miles long consisting of 1 mile up hill, 3 down, and finished with 3 fairly flat miles. About 3 miles in I developed a pair of blisters (1 on each foot) right on the inside of the arch of my foot. At first I thought it was a rock but after a quick examination I realized that I would be running the last 15 miles of this race with a set of quarter sized blisters. Once I realized I had these blisters a thought flashed through my mind, "you should stop, it's not worth it". I immediately pushed that thought out of my head and told myself, I haven't trained this hard just to let a little nuisance stop me now. I can't do anything to stop the pain now. I need to push through it and endure.
Deep insight: Life is like a steep downhill race. You are sure to get some blisters along the way but life is not about the blisters it is about how you react to the blisters. Do you stop, give-up, or just push your way through the temporary pain?
2- "A team" Or should I say a whole support crew. After dealing with the blisters from my first leg and some minor dehydration issues it was 10:00pm and time for me to start my second and hardest leg of my race. 8.1 miles of mostly gradual uphill with the last 1/2 mile taking a turn for the worst with a severe incline. I felt like crap, my feet hurt, the blister on my right foot had popped, I felt nauseous and like I said, like crap. I put on my shoes, clipped the light on my hat, and set out to do my best all the while having a sick feeling in the back of my mind that I didn't think I would be able to finish my leg without walking.
Mile after mile I fought the erge to stop and walk. Mile after mile my team stopped to cheer me on, give me water and goo, encourage me. Every time I heard the horn blow or saw my teammates I knew I couldn't let them down. I had to keep going, I had to fight through the pain and aches and nausea. Soon I came upon the "1 mile to go" sign and my spirits were lifted. I knew I could run 1 mile no matter how bad the conditions. I put my head down and plugged away. 1 minute passed, then another, soon another and another. At this point I couldn't have been much more then 1/2 a mile away from the exchange. I lifted my eyes to see if I could see the lights of the exchange in the distance. As I lifted my eyes at first all I saw was darkness but as I continued to lift my eyes towards the sky I could see the lights about 300 feet over my head. My heart sunk and everything began to grow heavy and then I saw a figure in front of me in the dark. As I approached the figure the light on my hat revealed that it was my brother. Having seen the condition I was in and the struggle in my eye the last time he had stopped to give me water, he had jogged down the hill from the exchange so that he could run with me up the hill. He ran stride for stride up the hill with me encouraging me and giving me the strength to finish my leg without walking. Looking back I don't know if I could have run up the hill without his incouragement and support but one thing I do know, it was a simple gesture of love but I will never forget.
Deep Insight: Sometimes in the dark of night we feel alone with nothing left and the weight of the world feels too heavy to bare. However, we are never alone, there is always someone waiting for us and helping us even if we cant see them right now.
3-"The Dang Pirate" At the beginning of the race we always look for a group that we can run against. One of the groups we picked this year was called "The Pirates of the Wasatch Back". We battled with them throughout the 1st day passing them and then being passed by them. We saw them at most of the transitions and along the trail the first day but as the evening approached we lost sight of them not knowing if they were behind us or ahead of us so we pushed on. As I started my last leg, a mere 3.1 miles, the thought of beating the pirates had faded away and now the battle was with myself. I had 3.1 miles to go and I was going to finish this race having given it my all with no regrets. I pushed myself to the limits and when all was said and done I finished my last leg recording my fastest pace of the race. I was exhausted, sore, but content. It wasn't until later in the race that we saw the pirates again. They had pulled out in front of us by a good 20 minutes through the night. It was slightly disappointing to realize we had lost the battle with our foe but I realize that I had won the true battle. The battle with myself.
Deep Insight: Life is a series of battles, some we lose and some we win. Just make sure you win the ones with yourself because the rest don't mean a thing. Stupid Pirates!!!
27 of the last 48 hours was spent with 5 teammates in a suburban in the mountains running the Wasatch Back Relay. Our journey began in Logan Utah and 188 miles and 27 painful, sleepless, ache-full hours later we finished in Park City. During those 27 hours I learned a few things about myself and about life.
1- "2 Blisters" I started my first leg around 1:30pm. It was 6.9 miles long consisting of 1 mile up hill, 3 down, and finished with 3 fairly flat miles. About 3 miles in I developed a pair of blisters (1 on each foot) right on the inside of the arch of my foot. At first I thought it was a rock but after a quick examination I realized that I would be running the last 15 miles of this race with a set of quarter sized blisters. Once I realized I had these blisters a thought flashed through my mind, "you should stop, it's not worth it". I immediately pushed that thought out of my head and told myself, I haven't trained this hard just to let a little nuisance stop me now. I can't do anything to stop the pain now. I need to push through it and endure.
Deep insight: Life is like a steep downhill race. You are sure to get some blisters along the way but life is not about the blisters it is about how you react to the blisters. Do you stop, give-up, or just push your way through the temporary pain?
2- "A team" Or should I say a whole support crew. After dealing with the blisters from my first leg and some minor dehydration issues it was 10:00pm and time for me to start my second and hardest leg of my race. 8.1 miles of mostly gradual uphill with the last 1/2 mile taking a turn for the worst with a severe incline. I felt like crap, my feet hurt, the blister on my right foot had popped, I felt nauseous and like I said, like crap. I put on my shoes, clipped the light on my hat, and set out to do my best all the while having a sick feeling in the back of my mind that I didn't think I would be able to finish my leg without walking.
Mile after mile I fought the erge to stop and walk. Mile after mile my team stopped to cheer me on, give me water and goo, encourage me. Every time I heard the horn blow or saw my teammates I knew I couldn't let them down. I had to keep going, I had to fight through the pain and aches and nausea. Soon I came upon the "1 mile to go" sign and my spirits were lifted. I knew I could run 1 mile no matter how bad the conditions. I put my head down and plugged away. 1 minute passed, then another, soon another and another. At this point I couldn't have been much more then 1/2 a mile away from the exchange. I lifted my eyes to see if I could see the lights of the exchange in the distance. As I lifted my eyes at first all I saw was darkness but as I continued to lift my eyes towards the sky I could see the lights about 300 feet over my head. My heart sunk and everything began to grow heavy and then I saw a figure in front of me in the dark. As I approached the figure the light on my hat revealed that it was my brother. Having seen the condition I was in and the struggle in my eye the last time he had stopped to give me water, he had jogged down the hill from the exchange so that he could run with me up the hill. He ran stride for stride up the hill with me encouraging me and giving me the strength to finish my leg without walking. Looking back I don't know if I could have run up the hill without his incouragement and support but one thing I do know, it was a simple gesture of love but I will never forget.
Deep Insight: Sometimes in the dark of night we feel alone with nothing left and the weight of the world feels too heavy to bare. However, we are never alone, there is always someone waiting for us and helping us even if we cant see them right now.
3-"The Dang Pirate" At the beginning of the race we always look for a group that we can run against. One of the groups we picked this year was called "The Pirates of the Wasatch Back". We battled with them throughout the 1st day passing them and then being passed by them. We saw them at most of the transitions and along the trail the first day but as the evening approached we lost sight of them not knowing if they were behind us or ahead of us so we pushed on. As I started my last leg, a mere 3.1 miles, the thought of beating the pirates had faded away and now the battle was with myself. I had 3.1 miles to go and I was going to finish this race having given it my all with no regrets. I pushed myself to the limits and when all was said and done I finished my last leg recording my fastest pace of the race. I was exhausted, sore, but content. It wasn't until later in the race that we saw the pirates again. They had pulled out in front of us by a good 20 minutes through the night. It was slightly disappointing to realize we had lost the battle with our foe but I realize that I had won the true battle. The battle with myself.
Deep Insight: Life is a series of battles, some we lose and some we win. Just make sure you win the ones with yourself because the rest don't mean a thing. Stupid Pirates!!!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The "Y" and my sore thigh(s)
The "Y"
Memorial day morning the Ross family decided to go on a little family hike up to the "Y". I think the last time I hiked to the "Y" I was still in public school, possibly even elementary school. I was excited to hike the "Y" but this hike was going to be different then any hike I had ever down before. This hike would be the 1st time ever that Alexis (3) would venture out with me.
After getting our camelbak filled, shoes tied, and a very motivational pep talk from Lesa to Lexy, "no crying, be tough, have fun..." we were on our way.
I will say that Lexy only cried once the entire hike and it happened to be as we were walking back into the parking lot after the hike was over. She slipped on some gravel and landed flat on her bum. Ouch! Lexy hiked all the way to the "Y". Some times running, other times holding my hand but happy the whole way and very pleasant to be with. I really enjoyed our hike together and this is one of those memories that I will never forget. Our 1st Hike together was a success and I look forward to many more father/daughter, father/son, and family hikes.
The Saturday after memorial day Curtis invited me to hike squaw peak with him. Curtis, Nathan (Curt's son), my Dad, and I met at 6am and off we went.
From the get go it looked to be an interesting hike with Nathan not yet 10 and my Dad having practically tore his ACL 4 weeks earlier. being just under 8.5 mile round trip with over 3,000 vertical feet to the top squaw peak is not an easy hike but one that is well worth it and it has a view to die for.
After a little more then 90 minutes of hard hiking we reached the top and it was there that I realized that of the group I was the only one that had ventured the peak before. It was breath taking as always and at the top we called family and we could even see them outside on their phones looking up and trying to see us. How absolutely amazing and B-E-A-U-tiful to have such an incredible hike and mountains so close to home.
My Sore Thigh(s)
After a brief rest it was time to descend. Me being a genius decided to jog/run all the way down so I could count this hike as my run for the day. I did indeed jog/run all the way down making it in just over 30 minutes (that is a 7 minute mile pace for those that ain't geniuses like me). After the run my legs were sore but I am young, I will recover quickly or so I thought. For the next 2 days Todd and his family laughed every time I tried to walked down a hill, a stair, or even a bump without wincing in pain and grabbing for anything in the area to help me from falling. I felt like someone walked up and hit me across the forehead with the "your an old man" 2x4. Wow, am I really that old? No, I am not yet 30. 30 is old, 29 is almost old.
The hike and run were awesome and if you haven't hiked squaw peak you should.
Memorial day morning the Ross family decided to go on a little family hike up to the "Y". I think the last time I hiked to the "Y" I was still in public school, possibly even elementary school. I was excited to hike the "Y" but this hike was going to be different then any hike I had ever down before. This hike would be the 1st time ever that Alexis (3) would venture out with me.
After getting our camelbak filled, shoes tied, and a very motivational pep talk from Lesa to Lexy, "no crying, be tough, have fun..." we were on our way.
I will say that Lexy only cried once the entire hike and it happened to be as we were walking back into the parking lot after the hike was over. She slipped on some gravel and landed flat on her bum. Ouch! Lexy hiked all the way to the "Y". Some times running, other times holding my hand but happy the whole way and very pleasant to be with. I really enjoyed our hike together and this is one of those memories that I will never forget. Our 1st Hike together was a success and I look forward to many more father/daughter, father/son, and family hikes.
The Saturday after memorial day Curtis invited me to hike squaw peak with him. Curtis, Nathan (Curt's son), my Dad, and I met at 6am and off we went.
From the get go it looked to be an interesting hike with Nathan not yet 10 and my Dad having practically tore his ACL 4 weeks earlier. being just under 8.5 mile round trip with over 3,000 vertical feet to the top squaw peak is not an easy hike but one that is well worth it and it has a view to die for.
After a little more then 90 minutes of hard hiking we reached the top and it was there that I realized that of the group I was the only one that had ventured the peak before. It was breath taking as always and at the top we called family and we could even see them outside on their phones looking up and trying to see us. How absolutely amazing and B-E-A-U-tiful to have such an incredible hike and mountains so close to home.
My Sore Thigh(s)
After a brief rest it was time to descend. Me being a genius decided to jog/run all the way down so I could count this hike as my run for the day. I did indeed jog/run all the way down making it in just over 30 minutes (that is a 7 minute mile pace for those that ain't geniuses like me). After the run my legs were sore but I am young, I will recover quickly or so I thought. For the next 2 days Todd and his family laughed every time I tried to walked down a hill, a stair, or even a bump without wincing in pain and grabbing for anything in the area to help me from falling. I felt like someone walked up and hit me across the forehead with the "your an old man" 2x4. Wow, am I really that old? No, I am not yet 30. 30 is old, 29 is almost old.
The hike and run were awesome and if you haven't hiked squaw peak you should.
Enjoy or Despise?
There are a lot of things in life that are enjoyable and a few things in life that I despise but there are very few things in life that I both enjoy and despise. At first thought my kids would go on this short list because I love them, I enjoy being with them but sometimes I despise the trials, sleepless nights, and their terrible two's (or at least Ryan's terrible two's since Lexy's was no big deal-Boys are insane and crazy!!!). That being said, I could never put my kids on this list because they are far too cute and Ryan's shoulder shrug turns my frustration into laughter every time.
Example: "Ryan, stop climbing on the counter while hitting your sister and trying to open the benadryl bottle for the 12th time today!!!"
He ignores me so I walk over to Ryan, grab his head and turn it towards me and put my head about 6 inches from his face and say. "Ryan, lets get down from the counter, stop hitting your..." before I finish I get whacked across the face by my 2 year old sons open hand.
"WHAT THE, NO HITTING RYAN, YOU GET TIMEOUT!!!" I carry Ryan over to timeout and he looks at me, smiles, shrugs his shoulders and then tries to give me a hug. I walk away laughing and glad that kids are so loving even after daddy scolds them.
Another thing that would make onto my E-D list would be running. Some days it is so relaxing to be running on a trail removed from the chaos of society as the light rain kisses the back of your neck and the green grass tickles your legs. Other days I despise running, the pounding, the longboarders, the sweat in my eyes, the fact that somehow the Beach Boys made it onto my Ipod. Running is something that i look forward to and something I try to avoid.
It always feels good to go run and stretch out the old hammies but sometimes the hammies scream mutiny. In my head the debate will rage on each time lace up the ol'shoes. Do I enjoy doing this or do I despise it? Do i run because I enjoy running or is it a means to an end? Does the small glimpses of peace and tranquility of the run out weigh the sore mussels? I definitely enjoy the result of running and by that I mean the long term results of staying in shape and under 200 pounds not the short term results of sore legs and the occasional blister. To be honest, I think the reason I enjoy running most is because it gives me an excuse to spend time with my brothers. It gives me the opportunity each and every time to push myself and prove to myself that yes I can do it. I can run up suicide hill without stopping, I can run down from squaw peak in 30 minutes, I can run faster then all of my brothers.
I love the challenge, I enjoy running but I could do without the fatigue.
Example: "Ryan, stop climbing on the counter while hitting your sister and trying to open the benadryl bottle for the 12th time today!!!"
He ignores me so I walk over to Ryan, grab his head and turn it towards me and put my head about 6 inches from his face and say. "Ryan, lets get down from the counter, stop hitting your..." before I finish I get whacked across the face by my 2 year old sons open hand.
"WHAT THE, NO HITTING RYAN, YOU GET TIMEOUT!!!" I carry Ryan over to timeout and he looks at me, smiles, shrugs his shoulders and then tries to give me a hug. I walk away laughing and glad that kids are so loving even after daddy scolds them.
Another thing that would make onto my E-D list would be running. Some days it is so relaxing to be running on a trail removed from the chaos of society as the light rain kisses the back of your neck and the green grass tickles your legs. Other days I despise running, the pounding, the longboarders, the sweat in my eyes, the fact that somehow the Beach Boys made it onto my Ipod. Running is something that i look forward to and something I try to avoid.
It always feels good to go run and stretch out the old hammies but sometimes the hammies scream mutiny. In my head the debate will rage on each time lace up the ol'shoes. Do I enjoy doing this or do I despise it? Do i run because I enjoy running or is it a means to an end? Does the small glimpses of peace and tranquility of the run out weigh the sore mussels? I definitely enjoy the result of running and by that I mean the long term results of staying in shape and under 200 pounds not the short term results of sore legs and the occasional blister. To be honest, I think the reason I enjoy running most is because it gives me an excuse to spend time with my brothers. It gives me the opportunity each and every time to push myself and prove to myself that yes I can do it. I can run up suicide hill without stopping, I can run down from squaw peak in 30 minutes, I can run faster then all of my brothers.
I love the challenge, I enjoy running but I could do without the fatigue.
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